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Chapter-02 Enzymes

BOOK TITLE: Handbook of Biochemistry (For Allied and Nursing Students)

Author
1. B Shivananda Nayak
ISBN
9789380704449
DOI
10.5005/jp/books/11258_2
Edition
2/e
Publishing Year
2010
Pages
20
Author Affiliations
1. University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies; Subbaiah Institute of Medical Sciences, Shivamogga, Karnataka, India
Chapter keywords

Abstract

Enzymes are biological catalysts produced by the living cells and they catalyze several reactions in the body. All enzymes are protein in nature but all proteins are not enzymes. The enzymes mainly catalyze the metabolic pathways in the human body. The deficiency of the enzyme results in metabolic errors. Most of the enzymes are of intracellular enzymes. The enzyme binds with its specific substrate to form ES complex. The active site of an enzyme is the region where substrate binds. Enzymes require coenzymes, which are small organic molecules that transport chemical groups from one enzyme to another. The factors which affect enzyme activity are pH, temperature, concentration of substrate and concentration of enzyme. Enzymes are classified into six classes depending on their functions. The phenomenon of the decrease in the rate of enzymatic reaction brought about by the addition of a chemical substance is called enzyme inhibition. The substances, which inhibit the enzyme, are called as inhibitors. The inhibition is of competitive and noncompetitive. The competitive inhibition is utilized in the drug therapy. Most of the enzymes are regulated by allosteric regulation to control the metabolic reactions.

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